By Tom Frary
As impressive visually as any of the recent winners of the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere, Sun Bloodstock's National Defense (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) returns with a weight of French expectation behind him in Monday's G3 Prix Djebel at Maisons-Laffitte. This race has often served as a trial for the 2000 Guineas and Nureyev, Zino (GB), Pennekamp and Makfi (GB) all captured this en route to securing leading honors at Newmarket, albeit the former was controversially disqualified. Whether National Defense is cut from the same cloth remains to be seen, but the manner of his success in the Arc day highlight for the juvenile colts suggests he will be a prominent force throughout 2017. Dropping back from a mile for the first time should hold no fears, as he was in charge at every point of that mile contest, displaying deadly speed as he dealt with the subsequent G1 Racing Post Trophy third Salouen (Ire) (Canford Cliffs {Ire}) by 4 1/2 lengths. Any unbeaten colt from the Andre Fabre stable carries gravitas and Al Shaqab Racing's Al Wukair (Ire) (Dream Ahead) is no exception, having upstaged Goldikova's half-sister and subsequent G3 Prix Vanteaux winner Gold Luck (Fr) (Redoute's Choice {Aus}) with a degree of comfort in Deauville's Listed Prix Isonomy over a mile in October. He is the most likely participant to land a blow on National Defense, while there is a sufficient supply of useful types such as the Listed Prix de la Californie winner Straight Right (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) to provide a measurement of the race's worth.
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